Game apparatus



E. W. FURRELL.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-I2. |918.

1 ,324,041 Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

space 1 as shown.

EDWARD W. FURRELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed Beccmber 12, 1918.

. To all whom t may concern:

:a subject of the King of Great Britain, re-

siding at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful lfmprovement in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a game apparatus and has for its object to provide a novel and interesting indoor amusement.

It consists in features of novelty as here- 'inafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forining part of this specification, whereon:

Figure l is a top plan view of my improved game apparatus; Fig. 2, a front end elevation thereof broken away and shown partly in section on line 2, 2, in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a vertical cross section to enlarged scale through one of the side walls of the board forming part of my invention, on line B, 3, in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4l, a top plan view to enlarged scale of one of the circumscribed numbers marked on the board and showing the number inclosed by a star (omitted in Fig. l for clearness of illustration).

Like letters and numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

My improved game apparatus consists preferably of a rectangular-shaped board a ofk suitable material and construction and vhaving a smooth level playing surface which is inclosed by two opposite upright end and side walls, Z), respectively. .Across the playing surface of the board a between its side walls l), is placed a preferably upright partition yc which divides the playing surface into two separate parts or spaces viz: a front space 1 and a rear space 2, the spaces 1, 2, communicating with each other by preferably, a series of openings which are formed transversely through the partition c and may be of any desired shape and distance apart, preferably as shown, that is to say, a central opening (l and two openings al and d on each side of the central kopening d at a suitable distance therefrom and from each other, the openings d, d, CZ, being closed at the top,y preferably by a metal cover strip e (shown partly broken away in Fig. 1), and suitably shaped for allowing free passage therethrough of a ball 00 when projected at various angles from a predetermined spot 3 or 3 marked on the playing surface of the board a within the front Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Serial No. 266,449.

On the playing surface of the board a within the rear spaced 2 are preferably marked a series of numbers which are preferably arranged at uniform intervals over the entire surface of the space 2, each number being preferably circumscribed or inclosed by lines marked on the playing surface of the board a in the form of a square as shown (circle or other geometrical form) and in each square combined with its particular number is preferably marked the name of one of the United States, the numbers in the present case ranging from 1 to 48 conformably to the relative population of the several States; moreover, each number is preferably inclosed by a star within the square, as seen particularly in Fig.4, but omitted from Fig. 1 for clearness of illustration.

Or if desired other numbers may be substituted for those described, without the inclosing stars and names of States, or without either according to the game that may be played on the board a.

On the playing surface 2 of the board a, within the rear space 2, preferably in the center thereof, is initially placed a b(l ll y/ of a :distinctive color (preferably black shown) which in the present caseY constitutes an important feature of the particular game preferably to be played on the board a, as hereinafter more particularly referred to, the ball 1/ remaining on the playing surface of the space 2 during the game.

Along each side and end wall Z), o', of the board a4 and at intervals along each side of the partition c between the openings CZ, fl', d, are preferably fixed the striking or cushion rails which with the surface of the board a are preferably covered with felt or like material as in a billiard table.

Outwardly along the side walls b, and rear end wall b, is preferably arranged a coutinuous track g having upright holes /L therein at suitable intervals, in which is iuserted a pega' (Fig. 2) or analogous device, the holes 7L being numbered consecutively from say, 1 to 100 (or other maximum number as desired) from a starting point e at the front end of the board a at one side thereof to a finishing point e at the front end of the other side as shown, whereby, the score made by a player as hereinafter more particularly referred to) is registered during the progress of the game.

A series of tracks g, g, similar and adjacent to the track g may bc used in combi nation therewith as shown according to the number of players, which in the present case is preferably three.

It is to be here noted that the numbers and other marks on the playing surface of the board a within the space 2 may be worked into, stamped, or otherwise marked onthe covering material so as to be flush therewith, whereby the playing surface is level throughout, and all depressions, such as occur in a bagatelle board dispensed with, the same feature being applicable to a board of a cheaper or smaller grade in which the felt covering is eliminated and in which the striking rails f may be omitted; furthermore, the board a and its appendages may be either mounted on a separate table or on legs to form a table.

According to a preferable mode vof playing one form of game on a board a such as described, each player by means of a cue, projects the ball a' from say, the spot 3 within the space 1 directly through either of the openings (l, d', d, of the partition c, in the direction respectively indicated by the full lines in Fig. l, that is to say, if the player elects to, and succeeds in sending the ball through the central opening d, 1t will enter the space 2 of the board a and presumably strike and displace the black ball y, whereby the black ball y will travel over the playing surface of the space 2 and finally come to rest in one of the numbered squares, the ball m meanwhile also peregrinating over the playing surface of the spa 2 and finally coming to rest in one of the numbered squares, the player in such case scoring the difference between the said numbered squares.

Or if the player elects to drive the ball m directly through either of the side openings (Z, or cl, it will enter the'space 2 and strike the corresponding striking rail f therein, by which it will bey deflected and peregrinate over the playing surface of the space 2 finally coming to rest in one of the numbered squares, as in the case of the opening d, and should the ball while so traveling strike and displace the black ball y, the player will score the difference between the numbered squares so occupied by the balls af: and y, and should the ball m come to rest outside a numbered square the player fails to score notwithstanding the position of the black ball y.

Should the pla er elect to direct the ball :r by an indirect siot or at an angle against the striking rail f of the partition c between the openings d, d', the ball :v is deflected thereby at a corresponding angle as shown by broken lines in Fig. 1, against the front end wall 7) of the board a, whereby it is again deflected at the same angle, presumably through the side opening cl and entering the space 2 strikes against the striking rail f thereof and thence percgrinates over the playing surface until at rest in a numbered square, the same rule applying in this case with respect to the black ball y as before described in the case of the direct shot.

Similarly, by placing the ball m on the spot 3 within the space 1 and directing it at an angle against the striking rail f between the openings (l, d', (as indicated by the small dotted lines in Fig. 1) of the artition c, it` will presumably be deflecte at the same angle by the front end wall b through the opening d and enterin the space 2 strike against the striking rail t erein by which it will be deflected and peregrinate over the playing surface until at rest in a numbered square.

If successful in directing the ball :c at an angle through the openings d', d, than player scores double.

Should the ball a: fail to pass through either opening d, d', d, into the space 2 but remain within the space 1, or should the ball ai return through either opening d, d', d, from the space 2 into the space 1, the player fails to score for the time being.

The score of each player is registered by changing the position of the ypeg z' along the track g, (g, `(,1,) the game being won by the first player who scores 100 (or other maximum number).

I do not limit myself to the use ofthe particular numbers and other markings on the board a as hereinbefore described, nor to the particular description of game to be played thereon as these numbers and markings may be eliminated and other games played on the board a, for instance, the

board a may be'used as a miniature bowling alley, in which case the pins may be attacked by the ball .r from various directions; or the board a may be used as an amusement for children by placing toy soldiers Within the space 2 (or spaces 1 and 2) and using the ball :n as a missile projected from the space 1, either by the cue as before mentioned, or by a spring actuated pistol or analogous device.

I claim 1. In a game apparatus, the combination of a board having a plane playing surface throughout, walls inclosing` the said surface, a partition dividing the said surface transversely into two separate spaces and having a series of openings therethrough communleating with the said spaces, one of the said spaces having a series o f subdivisions respectively inclosing a distinguishing mark and forming therewith an unobstruc'tive component part of the said surface.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of a board having a planeplaying surface throughout, walls inclosing the said surface,

a sei-ies oi' openings therethrough communieating with the said spaces, and a ball placed on the said surface Within, and confined to one of the said spaces.

8. In a game apparatus, the combination of a board having a plane playing surface throughout, Walls inclosing the said surface, a partition dividing the 'said surface transveisely into two separate spaces and having a series of openings therethrough, one of the said spaces having a series of subdivisions respectively inclosing a distinguishing niark, and ci ball placed on the said surface Within the said subdivided space.

EDARD W. FURRELL. 

